Ketamine for Depression Treatment

Patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder or treatment-resistant bipolar disorder may benefit from ketamine infusion treatments at University Hospitals. Ketamine is a prescription medication that is approved for use in hospitals and other medical settings as an anesthetic. It is also now widely being used to treat depression.

Ketamine treatment is considered when patients fail to respond to other antidepressants. It is administered by an IV infusion in the arm, and typically the effects last for anywhere from days to weeks. Side effects are almost always mild and short in duration and may include dissociative changes and temporary elevation of heart rate and blood pressure.

How to Schedule Ketamine Infusion Treatment

Ketamine infusion procedures for depression are not currently covered by private insurance or Medicare/Medicaid and are offered on a self-pay basis. Patients who are interested in this service should ask their psychiatrist to send a referral with a brief treatment history of depression to:

Email: Keming.Gao@UHhospitals.org or Janine.Smalley@UHhospitals.org
Fax: 216-201-7274

After receiving the referral, an assessment for ketamine infusions will be scheduled.

Ketamine infusion services are located at:

UH Cleveland Medical Center
Mather Outpatient Surgery Center
11100 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44106

If you have any questions, please email us or call us at 216-844-5559.